Big Dogs Little Dogs

We're strolling along Queen Street on our way down to the beach for our afternoon play. More than one person stops us along our route to ask if they can 'pat the dog.' Journey dutifully stands still long enough to accept the praise and admiration and after a quick pat, we're off again.

There's a middle-aged lady with a miniature Schnauzer coming toward us from the opposite direction along the sidewalk. At twenty-five feet away, it starts...the dog is yapping, growling and pulling at the end of it's leash. His owner responds by shortening the leash while letting her poor baby know, 'it's o.k'. (No--It is NOT o.k!!!)

Journey is averting her eyes toward the park across the street, trying to control the situation by letting the Schnauzer know there is no threat from over here.

The lady and her 'poor baby' (now in a frenzied state) have managed to squeeze by us, relieved to have made it past us in one piece.

Once we've crossed the street and entered the park, a man walking a smart-looking Shetland Sheepdog is passing by. Over the barking, the man elucidates. When his dog was a puppy, he was attacked by a big dog-ever since, his dog is 'afraid of the big ones.' I ask him how many stitches the dog received from the attack. He assures me there were none required.

I don't buy it...it just doesn't justify this dog's behavior--lunging at the end of the leash, growling and snapping in my dog's face. Why was this issue not addressed right after the 'alleged attack?'

Not all small breeds exhibit this behavior but unfortunately, the majority do.

I'm so tired of hearing the reasons, I don't care what the owner's story is anymore. Willingly accept the blame for your dog's anti-social/bad behavior and set it right! Whether it stems from apprehension, lack of discipline or a Napoleon Complex, it's as much your responsibility to control your dog as it is my responsibilty to control mine.

Alot of times what people interpret as being an 'attack' is nothing more than a dominant dog doling out discipline-putting the overly zealous, misbehaving puppy or dog in its place. Calming its energies-letting it know what's 'acceptable behavior.'

I've seen my dog pin an annoying dog to the ground, after a warning ('get out of my space, I am not amused') holding it down, using her front legs until the dog lies still--gives in. Always done with an air of calm intent. After which she will release the dog, gather her dignity and stroll away. This is much the same as a parent containing an out-of-control child, who's in a temper tantrum, a paws-on time-out! If the dog approaches her again, it tends to display the required manners and respect.

This is the same way the mother dog teaches her puppies and if they tend to loose the lesson when they go to their new home, another dog will re-educate them.

I know if my dog were to respond in the same manner to these dogs or approach any dog-no matter what its size, barking and lunging at the end of her leash, there's a good chance I'd have a visit from an Animal Control officer and possibly a court order for a 'dangerous dog' designation.


This is a perfect case of 'size discrimination'!!